Manfred Stakes 2012 Field Lead by Mosheen

Talented Crown Oaks winner Mosheen makes her much awaited turf return at Caulfield this Saturday as the headline acceptor for the 2012 Manfred Stakes, the event registered this year as the Shadwell Stud Australasia Stakes.

Crown Oaks winner Mosheen resumes at Caulfield this Saturday

Eleven of the 19 nominees for the $100,000 Shadwell Stud Australasia Manfred Stakes (1200m) have been paid up for at acceptance stage today, the race to run as the fifth at 3:50pm (VIC time) on Saturday.

Wearing the No. 1 saddlecloth will be Robert Smerdon’s superstar daughter of Fastnet Rock Mosheen.

The $1.5 million earner races for the first time since her making a mess of her rivals to win the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 3 by a commanding nine lengths.

Drawn in barrier eight with Danny Nikolic engaged, Mosheen is yet to win over the 1200m distance but her solid first-up record and incredible class will likely see her open favourite in the Luxbet markets.

Aside from the resuming Mosheen, just one other runner in this year’s Manfred Stakes field won their most recent run with the David Hayes-trained Hussonet colt Rifleman.

Rifleman is out for their third win in as many starts this year following a four length victory at Ballarat first-up on January 5 and then a win over 1000m at Morphettville on January 21.

Hayes will also be represented in Saturday’s clash by his Redoute’s Choice colt Niconoise who is set to have the inside run from barrier one as they look to improve on their form last prep.

Along with Mosheen, six other horses will use the Manfred Stakes as their first-up run for the season.

Resuming gallopers include Peter Moody’s Group performing Fastnet Rock colt Highly Recommended (barrier six) who was last seen finishing a length away fourth in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) on November 12 and the Mick Price-trained Starcraft gelding Secret Hills who ran a credible sixth in the Caulfield Guineas in the spring.

The full 2012 Manfred Stakes final field and barrier draw can be found below.

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